Team-mates keeping Lampard lively

The Chelsea player learned a lot from the likes of Paul Ince, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt during his early years with England.

Now the 34-year-old is passing on similar information to the likes of Tom Cleverley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

However, on a personal level, Lampard's two goals against Moldova took his tally to his country to 25 - one shy of Bryan Robson and two short of David Platt.

He said: "It's life that all of a sudden you become one of the older ones in the squad and it creeps up on you quite quickly.

"I'm used to being called a veteran now. I've had that for four years! It is scary. Those things are a little reminder that in football terms you are getting to the other end.

"But I'm enjoying the different role, I enjoy being a bit more older and experienced, and trying to help anyway I can with the young boys.

"I find it very exciting to see the young players coming through like Alex and Tom. I'd much rather that than a stale team with no-one pushing each other.

"These kids come in and freshen up training, freshen up the game and that's good for us as a country and enjoyable for us to play in there. They have helped to energise me."

Lampard is proud to be close to matching the goal-scoring achievements of Robson and Platt.

He said: "They are two players I grew up watching and I am a very big fan of the pair of them.

"Bryan as a player, what he gave to England, was brilliant and you saw what David brought with his goalscoring abilities.

"The goal he scored against Belgium in the 1990 World Cup always sticks in my head, the volley.

"I'm very proud to be even one or two goals behind those two great players."

Lampard's chances of overtaking the duo have been increased by his return to playing a bigger role under head coach Roy Hodgson.

He missed EURO 2012 through injury but was skipper in Steven Gerrard's absence for last month's friendly with Italy before his double goal contribution against Moldova.

Lampard said: "I've always been here, sometimes on the bench in recent times, and it is part of being a strong squad.

"You can't always have it your own way, you can't expect to start every game.

"I've stayed playing because I enjoy it and feel I can contribute and I'm just pleased to be back at the stage of the other night when I'm contributing and we are winning games.

"As you get older, I think your game changes. There are certain games when you don't feel so good but I had those when I was 24 as well. That is just being a footballer sometimes.

"There are days when you wake up and don't feel as sharp but if you do the right thing, train, prepare, live right, you can prolong a career for sure.

"You see that more and more with modern day players and with experience you change your game anyway and I'm sure my game is different to when I was 24.

"My position on the pitch dictates that sometimes, and what the manager wants you to do. But I still try and do it as well as I possibly can."

Lampard is aware Ukraine will pose a tougher test in Tuesday evening's (Wednesday morning AEST) qualifier at Wembley than Moldova did.

He said: "I think they are a very good team. I watched the EURO 2012 game with England and they were technically very good with a lot of individuals in the team that can hurt you.

"We certainly are aware of the abilities in the team. We know we've got a good team to beat on Tuesday."